Re: English word order and bumper stickers

--- Doug Dee <AmateurLinguist@...> wrote:

> In a message dated 9/14/2004 10:24:45 AM Eastern
> Daylight Time,
> markjreed@MAIL.COM writes:
>
> >Saw a bumper sticker this morning that gave me
> pause:
>
>   >              AMERICA BLESS GOD
>
> >Of course, I assume that we have a simple mistake
> in intent, where the
> >author hasn't quite twigged onto the
> unidirectionality of mortal/deity
> >interaction verbs in English, i.e. gods do the
> blessing, while worshippers
> >are limited to praise/cursing, supplication, etc.
>
> You are mistaken.   "Bless" is not "unidirectional,"
> though the meaning is
> not identical in each direction.
I second this. In Hebrew:

 Baruch  ata adonai
 blessed you Lord

 "Blessed are you Lord."

Jewish Prayers regularly begin with this Blessing from
the Worshipers to God.

Elliott Lash.






		
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